Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General General Looking into an Contour SVT

Hi Everyone,

Nice site. Found lots of helpful information on it already.

I'm currently in the market for a "new" car (NEW - meaning, newer than what I have). I currently drive a 1992 Taurus SHO, and I've had it for 5 years, and love it to death. I've looked around for another 2nd generation SHO like mine with lower miles (mine has 160,000), but they are much harder to find nowadays. When looking into other, later model options, I remembered the Contour SVT, and how it caught my eye when they first came out.

I picked up a local "Auto Hunter" magazine and skimmed through it and found nothing at all (300+ pages of nothing). I had been checking ebay the last couple of weeks and couldn't find anything close enough for me to look at...until....this weekend. I was browsing again, and I typically look at every car listed and their location...to my suprise there was one right near me.

It's a 1998...black...79,000 miles (a little more than what I was looking for, but on my budget can't really be too picky). I haven't looked at the car yet, but it is supposed to be in very good condition...very well taken care of. The seller was asking $5900 for the car, but said may be willing to work on the price a little bit. At this point, I only have $5500 cash to spend on something, because money is a little tight as we are building a house. If I can get it at that price (given, I like it after I drive, and it is in the described condition), do you think that is a decent price?

Also, are any of you guys former SHO owners? If so, how do the two cars compare? I'm guessing that I will like the Contour just fine.

Well, time to get back to work...just thought I would post and get some opinions. One other thing...I was wondering are specific things that I should look at when veiwing the car.

Thanks for the help.

-Josh

Welcome! As stated on these boards previously, the SHO has the edge in straight line acceleration, but the SVT would win if twisties were introduced (isn't that where all the fun happens anyways????). I have a 99 SVT and love my car. For the price, I find it hard to find as good a value as a used CSVT. As with any car, there are some common issues found among CSVTs. The main one for the 98 is the plastic impeller in the water pump tends to fail. Check out some of the other forums and try some searching in the troubleshooting forum to see some of the common complaints. All and all, the CSVT is a very good car. I like mine so much I plan on keeping it for my winter car once I get my 350Z (that's the plan, anyways ). Good luck!

Hey thanks for the GREAT responses guys.

phd2be, wow another Vermont'er...go figure. Yes, I'm looking forward to getting one of these beasts...I figured in a straight line match the SHO would have the edge, but wasn't 100% sure...It's not really a big deal to me which is faster, but I was curious. My Taurus has a few goodies on it, and I'd like to add a few things to the Contour I get (if/when I do).

Ed98.5SVT,

1. I see your SHO is the newer bodystyle, so it's probably more comfy than my '92...I'd have to guess.

2. I agree 100%...my SHO is a 5-spd and I would not own one any other way. Kind of why I was limiting my search for a 2nd Generation, but hard to get a good one now...especially in this area.

3. My SHO has an aftermarket system in it, and some fool ripped the front speakers out so it sounds like garbage...In my case I would guess the Contour is better. I would also have to think your '96 is much better than mine.

4. Engine noise doesn't bother me too much...In fact I like it...gets a little annoying all alone during long trips, but not a biggie. Again, my SHO is the older one and has lots of noise in it, especially now after 160,000 miles.

5. That is great to hear.

6. Not a big deal...plan on adding a couple go fast goodies.

7. My SHO averages around 24mpg...maybe a little more on the interstate. I'm assuming the contour is as good if not better?

8. Really? That's cool too, but I wouldn't have guessed it. That is what I like about owning a "unique" car...sure, a lot of people don't know what they are, but the ones that do compliment them well.

9. Might be different with the year of my SHO, but either way, I rarely carry more than 1 passenger.

That was a great comparision man, glad you did that...appreciate it.

So is $5500-$5900 a decent price for the car I described above?

Will keep you posted on my situation.

Take care.

-Josh

Just one data point - I paid $6700 for my 98.5 CSVT with 106k miles in October '02. The car was super clean and in perfect mechanical shape, one owner, full dealer service history. 90% of the miles were highway cruising commuting between 2 cities 75 miles apart. With the miles on the one you're looking at, if it's in good shape that's a good price. You should be able to get the price down more though - nobody pays list price!

Scott

I replaced my '92 SHO with a '98 SVT Contour, so I have a lot of experience with both cars. As such, I have these observations:

1. The Contour is everything the SHO should have been but wasn't because of imperfect execution. The clutch action in the SHO is ridiculously stiff (Mazda by way of a truck, I believe). The SVT clutch is smooth and robust. The SHO's chassis isn't even close to the SVT-tuned suspension set-up. The SHO feels like what it is, a Taurus with a big motor. SHO steering is clunky, and the 400 pound weight difference between the two cars is very noticeable. The SVT can literally rungs rings around the SHO. It feels like a true sports sedan, albeit hampered by its front wheel drive setup.

2. Reliability is a weak point for both cars, but the SHO is worse than the SVT, statistically. That stupid clutch in the SHO requires replacement, and other things like the oil pressure sending unit and the coolant reservoir will fail. Brake rotors regularly warp, and the valves require frequent adjustment. The SVT's brakes are better and last longer. Of course the SVT Contour has its own problems like the front wheel bearings, radio antenna retraction, a trunk that will leak, a weak water pump, and an almost guaranteed failure of the catalytic converter. Little things break with depressing regularity on both cars.

3. Interior space in the SHO is obviously better, but the SVT isn't too shabby. The back seat is more cramped in the Contour, but the trunk is roomy, the front seats are equally comfortable and the driver's view is better in the SVT. The JBL audio system in the SHO is pretty good, but I have to say that the Contour's isn't all that awful. I know people will disagree with me here, but I kept the stock Contour system and only added a powered subwoofer (and a head unit five years later when the original failed). I think it's fine for my needs.


4. The SHO is a crude car in comparison to the SVT Contour. It has a wonderful motor, though. The first iterations of the SVT Contour did have the same engine, although SVT thought it was too expensive and opted for the 2.5L instead with polished intakes. The SHO's cowl noticeably shakes during hard acceleration, the tires howl mightly in hard turns, and the car feels heavy. The Contour is a better platform for performance, and it is reasonable quick. The stock SHO (according to Car and Driver) posted 6.4 seconds 0-60, and 15.1 secs in the 1/4 mile. The first generation SVT was 7.1 (because of the need to shift from 2nd to 3rd) and 15.4, respectively. No question the SHO is faster, but the SVT is much more refined.

5. Depreciation and resale value are terrible on these cars. That is good news for anyone buying one. Insurance rates are also low and carjackers/thieves tend to ignore the car.

Even though I drove the SHO for many years, I was so much happier with the SVT. Both are cult cars. Both can be driven hard and respond with delight. But the SHO is a 15 year old design, while the Contour is now 10. Those five years in automotive technology and execution are huge, just like the difference between a Contour and what is offered today

Lee K
92 SHO (ex)
98 SVT Contour, silver
03 Evo, red

i have a 98 that i am thinking about selling.

60k miles, check the sig/profile.

i'm in vt too.
my uncle was the first owner, i have all paper work.

it's in perfect mechanical shape, except some weird drivetrain bounce that you can read about on here...
i'll take care of that before i sell it.

it needs brakes, and a fuel filter, all of which will go in in the spring.

you are welcome to come take a drive when i work out the bugs...

I can tell you that the SVT has a tight go-kart like feel to it, as compared to the bulky and crude SHO. Build quality is much better too. The suspension and chassis are superb. Also shifter and clutch are buttery smooth compared to the SHO. Road and wind noise aren't that great. Back seat is really quite comfortable except for lack of headroom (I'm 6'3 and sat back there for several hours on a trip) Front seats are excellent. Engine isn't as strong but sounds so OMG beautiful.

Problems to look for ... most are minor, but the trans syncromesh on earlier cars can fail. Differential is somehwat weak also. Shift smoothly and avoid burnouts if you want it to last. Wheel bearings, water pumps, precats and O2 sensors have been known to fail. Trick polished intake manifolds become coated with carbon every 30-40K necessitating a cleaning to restore power and gas mileage.
Engine can become oil starved if right-cornering hard at high revs and throw a rod bearing.

But otherwise, you'll be hard pressed to find a FWD sport sedan that corners as enthusiastically and sings as beautifully as the SVT Contour